Chapter 75: Extra: Everything Was Getting Better and Better

The two of them hadn’t told Jiang Yunchun about their relationship yet. In front of the old lady, they acted just like friends.

Jiang Yunchun had been coughing lately, so Shen Tingwan stayed at the old mansion for a couple more days and spent the weekend keeping her grandmother company.

Sang Ning finished her work on Saturday evening and came over too, chatting idly with her grandmother and sharing recent photos they’d taken.

Jiang Yunchun beamed with joy. She now spoke knowledgeably about photography, like a true professional.

“Oh, this one’s really good,” Jiang Yunchun said, looking at the sunrise Sang Ning had shot at Little Mi Mountain. “Did you two go there together?”

Sang Ning nodded. “Yeah.”

Jiang Yunchun praised it as she looked. “It’s so beautiful.”

Sang Ning got excited. “There’s more…”

Shen Tingwan checked the time, then turned to gaze at Sang Ning’s lowered profile and tugged her hand.

Sang Ning turned back.

Shen Tingwan looked at her and whispered, “You’re not leaving tonight.”

The oblivious Jiang Yunchun chimed in enthusiastically. “Don’t go—stay at Grandma’s.”

Sang Ning didn’t refuse like she usually did. She agreed quickly. “Okay.”

Jiang Yunchun thought about having the housekeeper tidy up the guest room, but Shen Tingwan spoke up. “No need to bother. She can stay in my room.”

Jiang Yunchun looked surprised. Since when was her precious granddaughter so welcoming? She continued pulling Sang Ning along to look at the photos.

Shen Tingwan sat beside them, watching too. Her palm quietly slipped to the back of Sang Ning’s neck and rubbed it gently a few times.

Sang Ning squirmed from the tickle and glanced at her.

Shen Tingwan gave a helpless smile, then rubbed a bit harder before turning to Jiang Yunchun. “Teacher Jiang, it’s getting late. Aren’t you going to bed?”

Jiang Yunchun wasn’t sleepy. “We old folks don’t need much sleep.”

“You still need to rest,” Shen Tingwan said as she stood from the sofa. She glanced at Sang Ning again. “I’m heading up to my room first. Don’t stay up too late.”

Shen Tingwan went upstairs.

Sang Ning stayed in the living room a bit longer to keep Jiang Yunchun company.

Jiang Yunchun didn’t want to keep the young one up. “Little Ning, you should rest too. Working on weekends must be tiring, right?”

Sang Ning smiled. “I’m used to it.”

Jiang Yunchun patted her hand. “Go on, then. Grandma’s heading to bed too.”

Sang Ning finally nodded and agreed.

Jiang Yunchun returned to her first-floor bedroom. Sang Ning went upstairs to the south-facing master bedroom on the second floor. Shen Tingwan had already showered and was leaning on the sofa in her pajamas, reading a book.

Shen Tingwan looked up. “Teacher Jiang’s gone to bed?”

Sang Ning walked over to her. “Yeah.”

“Go take a shower.” Shen Tingwan’s eyes flicked to the bed. “Pajamas are there.”

The bedroom had its own bathroom, which was convenient. Sang Ning grabbed the pajamas and headed into the bathroom.

Nearly half an hour later, Shen Tingwan saw her emerge with damp black hair, wearing a nightgown.

It was one Shen Tingwan had worn before. Sang Ning rarely dressed in this style, though her figure suited it well. She just didn’t wear skirts much for work convenience.

Shen Tingwan still held her book, but her gaze fixed on Sang Ning.

Sang Ning squeezed onto the sofa and naturally pulled her into a hug. She’d wanted to do this the moment she entered the room, but hadn’t showered yet.

She asked Shen Tingwan, “What are you reading?”

Fresh from the shower, she carried a warm, fragrant scent. Shen Tingwan let herself be held without answering. “Finally remembered me?”

Sang Ning faltered at the words.

Shen Tingwan stared at her quietly.

Sang Ning’s face flushed slightly. She admitted honestly, “I’ve been thinking about you the whole time. I’m not used to you not coming home these past couple days.”

Shen Tingwan asked, “So you came over tonight?”

Sang Ning gazed at her and hummed softly. “Yeah.”

Shen Tingwan set her book aside and hugged her back, leaning in to tease. “Can’t even be apart for a little while?”

Sang Ning hummed again.

Delight filled Shen Tingwan’s eyes. She leaned in and pecked her lips. “A little reward.”

Sang Ning wasn’t as easily satisfied as before. After getting a taste, she wanted more—and acted on it. On the sofa, she hooked her arms around Shen Tingwan’s waist and smiled as she kissed her lips several times.

Shen Tingwan didn’t pull away.

They rubbed noses and lips together, exchanging intermittent kisses as the air grew ambiguously sweet.

It wasn’t their own place, so they couldn’t get too carried away. Sang Ning had only meant to hold and kiss Shen Tingwan for a bit, but the shallow kisses deepened, and the mood shifted, igniting heat.

In the end, they made it to the bed.

Shen Tingwan stroked her hair, kissed her ear, and softly reminded her, “Keep your voice down tonight.”

Sang Ning blanked for a moment, then asked embarrassedly, “Am I usually that loud?” Without her hearing aid, she couldn’t tell how loud she was, and Shen Tingwan had never mentioned it before…

Shen Tingwan held back a laugh. “A little.”

Sang Ning: “…………”

Shen Tingwan couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Sang Ning’s face burned red. She muttered, “Shen Tingwan…”

Shen Tingwan saw her bury her face in the pillow and reached out to cup her face, turning it toward her. They locked eyes as she laughed lowly. “Don’t want to talk to me anymore?”

Sang Ning’s heart overflowed with emotion. She couldn’t resist whenever Shen Tingwan smiled at her—especially with that hint of coquetry. She nipped Shen Tingwan’s lip and kissed her fervently.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Because I like hearing it…”

Sang Ning had nothing to say, feeling guilty. She felt the same way about Shen Tingwan. As if reading her mind, Shen Tingwan always made a point of breathing against her right ear during intimate moments, filling it with tender gasps that she heard clearly.

…

The next day, Sang Ning didn’t sleep in too late. She joined Jiang Yunchun in the kitchen to make egg pancakes—Shen Tingwan’s favorite. Whenever they had breakfast here, Jiang Yunchun made them herself.

Sang Ning made this morning’s batch. She picked things up quickly.

Jiang Yunchun took a bite and praised her cleverness.

“Tingwan’s not up yet?”

Sang Ning hemmed and hawed. “She might be a bit tired.”

Jiang Yunchun nodded. “Yeah, let her sleep more. She doesn’t sleep well usually.”

Sang Ning wanted to tell the old lady that Shen Tingwan slept great these days but couldn’t say it.

As they chatted, Shen Tingwan came downstairs and into the kitchen.

Jiang Yunchun said, “Up so soon?”

Shen Tingwan smelled the egg pancakes. “Hungry.”

Jiang Yunchun urged, “Try it quick. Teacher Xiao Sang made them today.”

Sang Ning held a piece she’d already eaten from.

Shen Tingwan leaned right in and finished it. “Mm, delicious. Tastes just like yours, Teacher Jiang.”

Jiang Yunchun watched, stunned.

Her precious granddaughter felt like a stranger…

Sang Ning had no work today and had time to take photos with Jiang Yunchun. The sun was perfect, and the neighborhood flowers were blooming vibrantly everywhere.

Shen Tingwan served as their model.

Sang Ning snapped away freely with the camera—especially of her girlfriend.

Jiang Yunchun observed quietly.

Soon, Sang Ning got a work call. She handed the camera to Shen Tingwan and stepped away to handle it.

Shen Tingwan took the camera and sat with Jiang Yunchun on a bench in the sun.

Jiang Yunchun looked at Shen Tingwan for a long moment without speaking, then frowned.

Shen Tingwan didn’t understand the frown. “What’s wrong, Teacher Jiang?”

Jiang Yunchun’s expression turned serious. “Do you like Little Ning?”

Shen Tingwan’s eyes paused briefly.

Jiang Yunchun picked up on it. Shen Tingwan wasn’t this enthusiastic with anyone else—bringing her home all the time, sharing a room, letting her take photos freely.

Shen Tingwan didn’t deny it, watching the old lady’s reaction.

Jiang Yunchun knew Wei Xue liked girls; her coming out had been a big fuss. She’d wondered about Shen Tingwan too, especially seeing how good she was to Sang Ning.

Shen Tingwan tested the waters jokingly. “I think Teacher Xiao Sang is pretty great…”

Jiang Yunchun pressed, “Really like her?”

Shen Tingwan simply admitted, “Yeah.”

Jiang Yunchun didn’t react right away. Worry creased her brow. “But she has someone already…”

Shen Tingwan paused, then couldn’t hold back a smile. So that was the concern.

Jiang Yunchun asked, “What are you laughing at?”

“Grandma, we’re already together.” Shen Tingwan sobered up and said seriously, “We were afraid you wouldn’t accept it, so we didn’t tell you…”

Jiang Yunchun still frowned. “…”

Sang Ning finished her call and approached, sensing the odd atmosphere.

Jiang Yunchun sorted her thoughts. So they’d been together all that time, hiding it from her. She glanced at Sang Ning. “You two teamed up to fool this old lady?”

Sang Ning blinked, confused. “Huh?”

Shen Tingwan explained, “Grandma knows we’re together now.”

Sang Ning froze instantly. It had come too suddenly.

Jiang Yunchun put on a stern face.

Sang Ning grew nervous. “Grandma…”

Jiang Yunchun said gravely, “Grandma’s mad. Such a big thing, and you didn’t tell me? Do you think I’m unreasonable?”

Sang Ning relaxed.

Shen Tingwan took Sang Ning’s hand and apologized to the old lady. “It’s our fault. We shouldn’t have kept it from you.”

“You know, you really had me fooled.” Jiang Yunchun’s brow smoothed. She had no issue accepting it; she just wanted Shen Tingwan to find the right person and not be lonely anymore.

Sang Ning chimed in obediently. “Grandma, we were wrong.”

Jiang Yunchun was just saying it for show. Seeing the sweet, sensible girl like this softened her heart immediately.

“Not mad anymore. Our Teacher Jiang is the best.” Shen Tingwan smiled coaxingly. “Happy to have another granddaughter?”

Coaxed from both sides, Jiang Yunchun’s lips curved into a warm, kindly smile under the sunlight. Their relationship was good—what more could she say? She just wished them well.

Shen Tingwan held the old lady’s hand, finally able to tell her, “I’m so happy now.”

“I can tell.” Jiang Yunchun’s eyes grew warm as she looked at the pair. “Take good care of each other.”

“Yeah.” Sang Ning felt warmth flood through her. Spring scenery bloomed brightly before her eyes—everything was getting better and better.